1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep opposition to your administration’s proposed ban on masks in public spaces, a policy that is not only unnecessary but also actively harmful to immunocompromised individuals, disabled people, and others at high risk for severe illness. Such a ban is an act of institutional ableism—one that signals to vulnerable New Yorkers that their safety, health, and access to public life are considered expendable. For many disabled and immunocompromised people, wearing a mask is not a matter of personal choice or symbolic politics—it is a medical necessity. To prohibit masks in public spaces creates yet another barrier for those already facing systemic neglect. It effectively tells them that their ability to safely navigate the world is less important than appeasing those who feel inconvenienced by the sight of precaution. The justification for this ban—concerns over security and identification—ignores both the realities of contemporary safety measures and the lived experiences of those who rely on masking. Security can be managed without endangering public health, as has been demonstrated in numerous institutions that accommodate both concerns. Meanwhile, forcing people to remove masks places an undue burden on those who are at greater risk of hospitalization and death from airborne illnesses, including COVID-19, which continues to spread and evolve. This decision is especially alarming in the broader context of a presidential administration already making policy choices that endanger the most vulnerable. From the planned unwinding of pandemic-era protections to the ongoing neglect of those living with Long COVID, people with chronic illnesses and disabilities are being systematically abandoned by those in power. A mask ban would only reinforce this trend, sending the message that their lives are disposable. New York has long prided itself on being a leader in equity and inclusion. Enacting a ban on masks would be a direct betrayal of that legacy. I urge you to reconsider this proposal and instead work toward policies that ensure all New Yorkers—especially the most vulnerable—can safely participate in public life.